Pipe-tongs



(No Model.)

0. F. SPERY. PIPE TONGS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1891.

amma/ j UNITED STATES CHARLES F. SPERY, OF HERMANN, MISSOURI.

PIPE-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,195, dated December29, 1891;

Application filed October 19, 1891,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SPERY, of Hermann, MissourL have made anew and useful Improvement in Pipe-Tongs, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact descrip tion.

' The improvement relates more especially, but not exclusively, to thatclass of pipe-tongs or wrenches in which a movable and a relativelyfixed jaw are used; and it has reference mainly to the means whereby thetool is readily adjusted to smaller or largerpipes, all substantially asis hereinafter described and claimed, aided by the annexed drawings,making part of this specificatiomin which- Figure 1 is a side elevationof the improved tool; Fig. 2, an edge elevation of the same, lookingtoward the back of the movable jaw; Fig. 3, a side elevation of thefixed jaw, including the pawl used in locking and unlocking the jaw, theview showing the pawl in engagement with the jaw; Fig. 4, a view similarto that of Fig. 3, but showing the pawl adj usted to free the jaw; Fig.5, a sectional plan on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the pawl in topView and the adjacent parts in section; and Fig. 6, a modification ofthe movable jaw.

The same letters of reference denote the same parts.

Saving as modified or supplemented by the improvement underconsideration, the tool is of the usual construction. The fixed jaw A isfinished in the usual manner at that part a of it which is applied tothe pipe, but at a it is slotted, the slot extending sidewise throughthe jaw and in the direction of the length of the jaw sufficiently toprovide for the various adjustments of the movable jaw with relation tothe jaw A, substantially as shown, and being ratcheted at asubstantially as shown. The movable jaw B is connected with the jaw A bymeans of the pawl C, said pawl at its ends 0 0 being journaled in thejaw B, and its tooth or point 0 working within the slot a, and beingadapted to coact with the ratchet a and so that when the pawl is turnedto engage with the ratchet the movable jaw is held from longitudinalmovement in the slot at of the fixed jaw; but when the pawl is turnedout of the ratchet the movable jaw is free to be shifted upon the fixedjaw to provide for a wider or a narrower opening, as may be desired,between the faces a, and b, respectively, of the jaws. lVhile I preferthe precise construction shown in the respect immediately underconsideration, I desire not to be restricted thereto nor to anyparticular form of pawl-and-ratchet mechanism, so long as the movablejaw can be adjusted to be pivotally held at any point along the lengthof the slot in the fixed jaw.

A spring D or other equivalent means may be used to insure theengagement of the pawl with the ratchet, saving when it is desired toadjust the movable jaw. In the present instance one end of the springpresses upon the point of the pawl and the opposite end of the springagainst the opposite side a of the slot.

Any suitable means-such as the handle E, applied to the end 0 of thepawl-may be used in turning the pawl when it is desired to hold itspoint out of engagementwith the ratchet.

The movable jaw B is of a suitable form to coact with the fixed jaw forthe purposes of a pipe-wrench, and it is journaled, as stated, upon thepart which connects it with the fixed jaw to enable that jaw to coactwith the movable j aw in grasping and releasing the pipe or other objectbeing operated upon. Instead, however, of making it of a single piece,it is preferably composed of two plates b 11 of substantially similarshape, placed side by side and secured together by means of rivets b orother suitable fastenings. Several advantages accrue from this mode ofconstruction. It is important that the metal of which the movable jaw iscomposed be as free as possible from defects, and by making the jaw inlayers, so to speak, defects in the metal, such as referred to, can bemore readily detected than when the jaw is composed of a single piece.The jaw can also be readily widened more or lessby placing said layersor plates closer together or farther apart, as indicated by the spacingb in Fig. 6, without materially altering the weight of the jaw. The jawcan also be readily adapted to the fixed jaw A by simply spreading theportions b b of the plates 1) 11 respectively, apart, so

as to enable the jaw A to be received between them. Furthermore, thecost of manufacturing the movable jaw is materially reduced when made inthe manner described.

Fig. 1 illustrates the operation of the device. Vhen it is desired touse the tool upon a smaller pipe or object, the jaws are relativelyadjusted as shown in the full linesthat is, with the movable jawconnected with the fixed jaw at or toward the end a of the slot in thefixed j aw and when it is necessary to operate upon a larger pipe orobject the jaws are relatively adjusted as indicated in the broken linesin that figurethat is, with the movable jaw connected with the fixed jawat or toward the end a of the slot. To facilitate the described relativeadjustment of the jaws, the jaw A may have a graduation or marking athereon, whose lines conform, respectively, with the dilferent openingspossible between the faces a and b, respectively, of the jaws. By movingthe jaw B upon the jaw A to bring, say, the edge I) of the jaw Bopposite a certain line in the graduation rejaw having a ratchet forsaid pawl to engage in, for the purpose'described'.

3. The combination of the movable jaw, the pawl, and the fixed jaw, saidlast-named aw having the ratcheted slot, and the marking, substantiallyas described.

Vitness my hand this 10th day of 1891.

October,

CHARLES F. SPERY. Witnesses:

CHAS. D. MOODY, A. BoNvILLE.

